Student Visa Health Insurance Checklist — by Embassy
This is a reference document, not a think-piece. Below you will find embassy-by-embassy checklists for the eight biggest destinations for international students. Each list shows exactly which health insurance documents your consulate expects, the minimum coverage values, the submission channel, and the most common rejection reasons. Print it, tick it off, upload it.
Compare compliant plans any time at /compare/. Country-specific guides live under /countries/.
How to use this checklist
- Scroll to your destination country.
- Collect each document listed under Checklist.
- Verify it matches the Submit to channel exactly — embassies reject scans in the wrong format.
- Cross-check against Most common rejection reasons before uploading.
- Keep a PDF copy of every document for your arrival package (residence permit, university enrolment, bank onboarding).
🇩🇪 Germany
You need: proof of health insurance valid from day 1 of entry, minimum €30,000 coverage, Schengen-wide validity, and — for most applicants — a blocked account confirmation. This goes to the German embassy or consulate as part of the national visa (Visum zu Studienzwecken, §16b AufenthG) file.
Checklist
- Incoming / expat health insurance contract (PDF) showing:
- Your full name (exactly as in passport)
- Start date on or before planned entry date
- End date covering at least the first 3 months (ideally 12 months)
- Minimum €30,000 medical coverage
- Schengen-wide validity
- Repatriation and return transport included
- German-licensed provider (BaFin-regulated)
- Confirmation letter from the provider in German or English stating the plan meets §257 SGB V / student-visa requirements
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto) confirmation — €11,904 for 12 months — OR proof of scholarship / parental income equivalent
- Letter of admission (Zulassung) from the German university or Studienkolleg
- Passport valid at least 12 months beyond arrival, plus biometric photo
- VIDEX visa form printed and signed
Submit to
German embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Appointments exclusively via the Konsularportal — walk-ins are not accepted. Processing time: 6–12 weeks.
Most common rejection reasons
- Coverage below €30,000 — fix by switching to a student-specific expat plan or upgrading.
- Travel insurance submitted instead of health insurance — travel policies are excluded; you need an “incoming” or statutory-style contract.
- Start date after intended entry — request a backdated contract from the provider.
- Missing Schengen coverage — ask the provider for a revised confirmation letter explicitly naming Schengen validity.
- Blocked account below €11,904 — the 2026 threshold increased; old €11,208 figures are rejected.
See also: GKV vs Private Insurance Germany and the Germany country guide.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
You need: proof that you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — £776 per year for students — which grants NHS access for the visa duration. A separate private policy is optional but recommended for gap cover and private treatment.
Checklist
- IHS reference number generated on gov.uk as part of the Student visa (formerly Tier 4) application
- IHS payment receipt (PDF) — full amount covering the entire visa period
- CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from your sponsor university
- Financial evidence showing 9 months of living costs (£1,483/month London, £1,136/month outside London)
- Optional: private supplementary insurance policy PDF covering dental, optical, and private GP access — include only if you want faster-than-NHS care
- TB test certificate if you are from a listed country
Submit to
Apply online at gov.uk/student-visa, then attend a VFS Global biometrics appointment in your home country. Average decision time: 3 weeks outside the UK.
Most common rejection reasons
- IHS not paid before submitting the visa form — the system blocks submission without a reference number.
- IHS paid for too short a period — must cover CAS duration + 4 months (for courses ≥12 months).
- Private policy submitted as a substitute for IHS — the UK does not accept private insurance in place of the surcharge.
- Financial evidence missing 28-day bank statement seasoning — funds must sit in the account for 28 consecutive days.
🇦🇺 Australia
You need: an active OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) policy from one of five approved providers, with a certificate covering your entire student visa (subclass 500) duration plus a buffer.
Checklist
- OSHC Certificate of Insurance (PDF) from one approved provider: ahm, Allianz Care Australia, Bupa, Medibank, or nib
- Policy start date on or before your course start date
- Policy end date covering your course + up to 2 extra months (single students) or buffer as advised by your CoE
- Cover type matching your situation: Single, Couple, or Family
- CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) from your Australian education provider
- GTE statement (Genuine Temporary Entrant) — written declaration
- Financial capacity evidence — AUD 29,710/year as of 2026
- Passport valid for full stay
Submit to
Lodge online via ImmiAccount. Biometrics at VFS/AVAC if required. Median processing: 28–45 days for subclass 500.
Most common rejection reasons
- OSHC from a non-approved provider — only the five listed insurers are accepted.
- Policy gap between end of course and buffer window — extend by 1–2 months before submitting.
- Family cover missing a dependant — re-issue certificate naming every dependant on your visa.
- Self-purchased travel insurance submitted — Australia strictly requires OSHC.
More: OSHC Guide Australia and OSHC provider comparison.
🇨🇦 Canada
You need: proof of private health insurance for the waiting period before provincial coverage starts, plus provincial enrolment where applicable. Requirements vary by province — BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Quebec cover students through provincial plans; Ontario does not.
Checklist
- Study permit-eligible health insurance PDF covering at least the first 3 months in Canada
- Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
- Proof of funds — CAD 20,635/year for 2026 (outside Quebec)
- Provincial health card application — apply within first 30 days of arrival:
- BC (MSP): 3-month wait, private insurance required for the gap
- Alberta (AHCIP): eligible on arrival for permits ≥12 months
- Ontario: no provincial cover for students — private plan required for the entire stay (often via UHIP)
- Quebec: RAMQ only if bilateral agreement exists (e.g. France, Belgium, Denmark)
- UHIP confirmation if studying in Ontario (automatic via most universities — keep the invoice)
- Biometrics appointment confirmation
Submit to
IRCC online portal. Processing: 4–12 weeks depending on source country and Student Direct Stream eligibility.
Most common rejection reasons
- Assuming OHIP covers you — Ontario excludes international students; always show private proof.
- Expired provincial waiting-period policy — BC in particular requires full 3-month private cover.
- Dependant spouse/children not listed — add them to the policy before submitting.
🇺🇸 United States
You need: evidence of health insurance meeting your university’s waiver rules — typically a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or an approved private alternative. F-1 visa officers check that you can cover medical costs, but there is no federal coverage minimum.
Checklist
- Form I-20 from your SEVP-certified school (this document lists your SEVIS ID)
- SEVIS I-901 fee receipt — USD 350
- DS-160 confirmation page
- SHIP enrolment confirmation from the university — OR:
- Private plan certificate meeting the university’s waiver criteria, typically:
- Minimum USD 100,000 medical coverage per condition
- Maximum USD 500 deductible
- Medical evacuation: USD 50,000+
- Repatriation of remains: USD 25,000+
- ACA-compliant or university-approved carrier
- Waiver form signed and approved by the university insurance office
- Financial support documents (bank statements, sponsor affidavit I-134)
- Passport valid 6 months beyond stay
Submit to
Book a visa interview at the nearest US embassy or consulate. The officer will not judge your insurance directly, but the university waiver must be complete before you enrol.
Most common rejection reasons (at the university waiver stage)
- Plan excludes pre-existing conditions — most universities require no exclusion or a waiting period ≤12 months.
- Deductible too high — USD 500 is a common cap; USD 1,000+ plans are rejected.
- No mental-health parity — many universities require inpatient/outpatient mental health cover equal to medical.
- Foreign-issued plan with no US claims network — coverage must pay providers inside the USA.
See also: Student Health Insurance USA F-1 Visa and How to Waive University Health Insurance.
🇫🇷 France
You need: enrolment in the French Sécurité sociale étudiante via CPAM (free, automatic for non-EU students aged 16–28). For the first weeks before your CPAM number arrives, private insurance is expected.
Checklist
- Campus France attestation (procedure Études en France for listed countries)
- Admission letter from a recognised French institution
- Long-stay student visa (VLS-TS “étudiant”) application via France-Visas
- Private health insurance certificate covering at least the first 3 months and the Schengen minimum €30,000 — used until CPAM registration completes
- CPAM registration confirmation on etudiant-etranger.ameli.fr — complete within the first month of arrival
- Mutuelle (complementary insurance) — optional but strongly recommended; CPAM only reimburses 70%
- Proof of accommodation (attestation d’hébergement, lease, or CROUS letter)
- Proof of funds — €615/month minimum
Submit to
France-Visas online portal then biometrics at VFS Global. After arrival, validate the VLS-TS within 3 months at the administration-etrangers-en-france.interieur.gouv.fr portal — without validation the visa becomes invalid.
Most common rejection reasons
- Skipping CPAM registration — causes visa validation issues at prefecture renewal.
- No bridge insurance for the first month — prefectures increasingly request it.
- Using student mutuelle as primary cover — mutuelle is supplementary; CPAM must be primary.
🇳🇱 Netherlands
You need: a Dutch zorgverzekering (GKV) if you work or do a paid internship, OR a private student policy (e.g. AON Student Insurance, ICS) if you only study. The IND (Immigration Service) requires proof for your residence permit pickup.
Checklist
- Residence permit (verblijfsvergunning) application submitted by your university as sponsor
- Private student health insurance policy PDF — typical plans: AON Student Insurance, ICS, OOM — showing:
- Minimum €30,000 medical cover
- Liability cover (aansprakelijkheid)
- Start date on or before entry
- Zorgverzekering enrolment confirmation — only required if you take paid work (including paid internship) or are older than 30 for some schemes; enrol within 4 months of starting work
- BSN (Citizen Service Number) — register at your local gemeente within 5 days of arrival
- Proof of funds — €14,040/year for 2026 (indicative)
- Nuffic-issued diploma evaluation if required for your programme
Submit to
The university’s international office submits the TEV (Entry and Residence) procedure to the IND on your behalf. On arrival, collect the residence permit at the IND desk — bring the insurance PDF.
Most common rejection reasons
- Taking paid work without zorgverzekering — triggers a CAK fine of €171+/month.
- Private-only policy during paid internship — switch to zorgverzekering from day 1 of paid work.
- Late gemeente registration — BSN delay blocks zorgverzekering and bank account opening.
🇯🇵 Japan
You need: enrolment in National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken / NHI) within 14 days of arrival, at your local municipal office. This is mandatory for any student staying longer than 3 months on a Student (留学) visa.
Checklist
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE / 在留資格認定証明書) issued by your university and forwarded to you
- Student visa stamped into passport at the Japanese embassy in your country
- Residence card (在留カード) collected at the airport on arrival
- Moving-in notification at your local municipal office (市役所 / 区役所) within 14 days
- NHI enrolment at the same counter — bring residence card, passport, and student ID if available
- Premium payment slips — typically ¥1,500–2,500/month for students with no income; reduced rates apply after submitting an income-exemption form
- Optional: private supplementary insurance (e.g. JEES plan) for higher reimbursement and English-language support
- Proof of funds for visa: approximately ¥1.5–2 million/year
Submit to
COE → Japanese embassy for visa stamp → airport for residence card → municipal office for address registration and NHI within 14 days.
Most common rejection reasons / penalties
- Missing the 14-day NHI window — you still owe backdated premiums from the day you registered your address.
- Using travel insurance as proof — accepted only for stays under 90 days; student visas always require NHI.
- Skipping the exemption form — unnecessarily pays full premium (¥20,000+/year) when students qualify for reduction.
See: Student Health Insurance Japan NHI Guide.
🇪🇸 Spain (brief)
- Private health insurance with no copayments, no waiting periods, full repatriation, valid throughout Spain — the consulate rejects plans with any copayment
- Policy certificate from an insurer authorised to operate in Spain
- Minimum coverage typically €30,000 (Schengen standard) but many consulates request unlimited medical
- Submit with the student visa application at your nearest Spanish consulate
See: Student Health Insurance Spain.
🇮🇹 Italy (brief)
- Private health insurance covering hospitalisation and urgent care, minimum €30,000
- OR voluntary SSN enrolment receipt (€149.77/year for students in most regions as of 2026)
- Submit with the type D student visa, then apply for permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival
🇨🇭 Switzerland (brief)
- Private student insurance OR Swiss LAMal compulsory insurance enrolment within 3 months of arrival
- Exemption request if using equivalent private plan — must be approved by cantonal authority
- Submit with the national D visa at the Swiss embassy
🇰🇷 South Korea (brief)
- National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) enrolment — mandatory after 6 months of stay
- Private insurance required for the first 6 months
- Submit with D-2 student visa application
🇨🇳 China (brief)
- Comprehensive insurance covering accident, illness, hospitalisation, and repatriation, minimum RMB 400,000 (~USD 55,000)
- Policy duration covering full study period
- Submit with X1 visa; purchase PICC Comprehensive Insurance for International Students after arrival if your home policy is rejected
Cross-country FAQ
Can I use the same policy for multiple countries?
Rarely. A single Schengen-compliant policy works across France, Germany, Italy, Spain and other Schengen states for short-term mobility, but each country requires a local certificate or enrolment once you start studying long-term (e.g. CPAM in France, NHI in Japan). Buy one global-incoming policy for the first months, then switch to the local system.
Is travel insurance ever enough?
Only for stays under 90 days. Every destination on this list explicitly rejects travel insurance for student visas because it lacks long-term care, mental health, and maternity cover. See Student Visa Health Insurance vs Travel Insurance.
How do I get a backdated certificate if my start date slips?
Contact the provider directly and request a revised Policy Schedule. Most student-focused insurers (DR-WALTER, Expatrio/Mawista, Care Concept) will re-issue within 24 hours at no charge, provided the new start date is still in the future.
What if my name is spelled differently in passport vs. insurance?
Request a name correction from the insurer before submitting. Even a missing middle name or diacritic (é vs e) has caused rejections at the German and French consulates in our reader reports. Always match the passport machine-readable zone (MRZ) letter-for-letter.
How long before my course should I buy the policy?
Buy at least 4 weeks before the embassy appointment, but set the policy start date to your planned travel date — not the appointment date. This avoids burning weeks of coverage while waiting for visa approval.
Ready to buy visa-compliant insurance?
Compare plans filtered by destination country. Our tool shows only providers whose certificates are accepted by your target embassy.
Edit history (1)
- Restructured as country-by-country embassy checklist — replaces the previous short general guide.
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